Saints Rally To Defeat Canaries

ST. PAUL, MN -- On the strength of a five-run seventh inning, the St. Paul Saints overtook the Sioux Falls Canaries, handing the Birds a 7-5 loss on Tuesday afternoon at Midway Stadium.

Canaries starter Ben Moore (8-6) exited the seventh inning leading 3-2 lead but with the bases loaded and one out. Brad Boyer's infield single off Jack Van Leur then tied the game, and the go-ahead run scored moments later on Chris Allen's wild pitch. Brandon Tripp eventually hit a three-run double to push the lead to 7-3.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Canaries worked three walks to load the bases with two outs, and Nick Van Stratten's single drove in two runs. But Cory Morales sturck out swinging with the tying runs on base, and Saints reliever Jon Plefka picked up a save.

Moore allowed just two runs and three hits through the first six innings before loading the bases on back-to-back singles and a walk in the seventh. He matched a season-high with four walks while striking out three.

St. Paul starter Cole Nelson (4-2) kept the Birds quiet with seven solid innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out five.

After falling behind 2-0 in the second inning, the Birds tied the game with Stephen King's sacrifice fly and Van Stratten's saftey squeeze bunt in the fifth. Tim Pahuta gave the Canaries a 3-2 lead in the sixth when he launched his league-leading 24th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field.

Van Stratten was 2-for-4 with three RBI, the only multi-hit performance for the Canaries.

Game three of the four-game series against the St. Paul Saints is at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.